What are those mysterious flashes on the moon? One astronomer wants to find out – USA TODAY

Meteor impacts? Brilliant moon mud? The astronauts’ golf clubs?

Whatever they are, random, uncommon flashes of light on the moon occupy puzzled astronomers for years. One fearless German astronomer  determined it is time to win out what they are. 

“These so-called ‘transient lunar phenomena’ were known for the reason that 1950s, nonetheless they’ve no longer been sufficiently and systematically seen, prolonged-term,” mentioned Hakan Kayal, a professor of situation technology at the University of Würzburg, in an announcement. 

Per Kayal, the flashes happen a complete lot of cases a week. Once in a while they’re greatest fast flashes of light, whereas others can final longer. Every infrequently, some areas appear to darken temporarily, he mentioned. 

Though scientists don’t understand exactly what causes the flashes, theories abound: Perchance they’re meteor impacts, which can presumably well cause a transient glow. Or presumably the flashes are electrically charged particles of the photo voltaic wind that react with moon mud.

But any other thought: moonquakes. “Seismic activities had been moreover seen on the moon,” Kayal mentioned. “When the bottom moves, gases that mirror daylight hours could presumably well damage out from the interior of the moon. This could possibly present the shimmering phenomena, about a of which final for hours.”

In Would possibly fair, scientists gave us the unsettling info that the moon is scared, based on a brand new peek. That scared causes moonquakes, which were detected greatest recently. 

Kayal’s resolution to resolve the thriller is a excessive-powered, far away-controlled telescope, pointed at the moon 24/7, that will capture photos and movies anytime it detects a flash. The telescope, which is in pickle in Spain, will give scientists a savor trove of images to pore through, which should always assist establish the source of the flashes.

A subsequent step would be a moon-devoted telescope that is positioned in orbit across the Earth and even the moon itself. 

Kayal mentioned curiosity within the moon flashes is excessive attributable to a brand new urge to the moon that is underway amongst China, India and the USA, moreover to a entire lot of deepest ventures. 

“Anybody who wants to compose a lunar wicked at some point must, for sure, be accustomed to the local conditions,” Kayal mentioned. “What if such plans should always ever change into concrete? By then at potentially the most contemporary, it’d be particular what the mysterious flashes and shimmering phenomena are all about.”